Illuminated sign



July 13, 1937. c. BELDEN ILLUMINATED SIGN ,Fil ed Oct. 10, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR aa/3wa.

BY X

ATTORNEY July 13, 1937 ATTORNEY July 13, 1937. 3, w BELDEN 2,086,893

ILLUHINATED SIGN Filed Oct. 10, 19:56 3 Sheets-Shet s 31A H11 4 CZ mvlgwoR 48 A'r'ronNl- Patented July 13, 1937 PATENT. OFFICE ILLUMINATED SIGN Charles W. Belden, Chicago, 111., assignor to Keynolds Metals Company, New

poration of Delaware York, N. Y., a cor- Application October 10, 1936, .Serial No. 105,051 Claims. (01. 40-133 This invention relates to. an improved collapsible or knock-down sign formed preferably of foil mounted on cardboard so as to be relatively wa-' terproof and fire-resisting and of a type particularly adapted to give a glowing neon effect at night and to provide a sign for both day and night useiw Heretof re various displays have been suggested whih have been suitable for giving different ligh effects. While these displays. have employed su rposed stencils and colored light they have also employed breakable glass plates,

- non-collapsible metal panels and box forms, and

generally may be said to have been expensive, to manufacture and difficult to ship. Many have i been ineffective in operation and once installed have been expensive to maintain.

I Therefore it is an object of my invention to provide a relatively fire-resisting, waterproof, collapsible or knock-down sign preferably formed 1 of cardboard covered on both sides with alumium foil and manufactured essentially from a one-piece blank so that foldable side, bottom, and

rear panels are integral with a front or sign display panel. v

A further object of my invention is to provide such a sign adapted to give a glowing neon sign effect by virtue of colored reflected light directed through superposed stencils which may be directly adjacent one to the other, the inner stencil being slightly smaller than the outer stencil.

It is a further object of my invention to provide such a sign which is adapted to give other col 'ored light effects than the characteristic neon color.

A further object of my invention is to provide a one-piece cardboard collapsible sign which may be easily assembled and which is so air-vented that heat generated within the limits of the sign by an electric bulb, is carried-outside of the limits -pigmented area at the rear of the sign and then reflected outwardly through the front of the sign.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a sign which has both day and night display value.

These and various other objects and advantages will be readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of preferred embodiments in the invention, in which modifications may be made without departing from thescope of the appended claims. I

In the drawings- 4 Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a sign embodying my invention including an illustration of an electric bulb and means of positioning the same within the sign. shown in dot-dash outline;

' Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the sign illustrated in Fig. 1 with the parts unassembled and in flat horizontal position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig, 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 5'5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 illustrates a planview, partly broken away, of a blank, comprised of a lamination of inner layer of heavy paper stock, a second layer of lighter paper stock and an outer layer of metal foil, die-cut with an outer stencil;

Fig. 'l is a plan view of a layer of paper and metal lamination adapted to-be superposed upon the lamination shown in Fig. 6, and. having a central area cut out therefrom, into whichcentiral area, an inner stencil is adapted to be introuce - Fig. 8 illustrates a plan view of the lamination shown in Fig. '7 superposed upon the lamination shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of an inner stencil adapted to be introduced into the cut-out area of the lamination shown in Fig. '7; and

Fig. 10 illustrates the superposed laminations illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 in assembled form and ready for die-cutting and die-scoring into a sign embodying my invention. 4

In these figures a sign III is preferably formed with a. front or display panel portion l2 integral with side panels I4, 9. rear panel l6 and a bottom panel l8, adapted to be formed into a. closed housing or container type of sign, and to be interiorly illuminated by an electric bulb indicated as 20. A suitable sales message such as that illustrated in these figures as Jones Beer 8: Ale" may be formed'in'front panel I! by superposing an outer wider stencil 22 over a narrower inner stencil 2|.

The sign I0 is preferably formed in the follow- -ing manner, (see Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10): a

point cardboard, water finished or similar mounting board 26 is' laminated to a 15 point paper mounted aluminum foil 28 with the metal foil 38 on the outside, and the desired stencil 22 having letters 23 die-cut therein in the proper location of the area selected for the front panel I2 of the sign; next an inner sheet 34 of 15 point paper mounted, highly reflective aluminum foil with the foil on the outer side is laminated to the inner side of board 26 to cover its entire surface except for a cut-out portion indicated as 36 which is omitted to provide a place for mounting the inner stencil 24; an inner stencil 24 with letters 25 preferably formed of 30 point stock having an inner lining of foil indicated as 40 is made of such shape as generally to conform with cutout portion 36 and is mounted therein so that theletters 25 of inner stencil 24 register with the letters 23 of outer stencil 22. Inner stencil 24 may be retained in position by suitable adhesive; thereupon side panels I4, rear panel I6 and bottom panel I8 may be scored out upon the side adjacent to frontpanel I2, and the excess material of the stock die-cut away; if desired, elongated strips 42 may be scored out between front panel I2 and side panels I4 and rear panel I6 thereby providing two score cuts indicated as 44 between the panels named so that the material at the score cuts need not be ruptured due to bending at materially higher angles than 90. However, all the score cuts between the front panel and the side, bottom and rear panels are ordinarily so arranged that the bottom panel I8 may be folded inwardly against the back of the front panel I2 and the side panels I4 next folded inwardly with the rear panel I6 overlying the same, thereby forming a flat, compact, knock-down sign housing for shipping purposes.

Suitable slots indicated as 46 and corresponding lugs 48 may be formed by die-cutting upon the margin of side panels I4, rear panel I6 and bottom panel I8 so that the-sign I0 can be assembled into a stable housing or container, the slots or lugs being die-cut simultaneously as the panels are die-cut and die scored. Also at the same time a suitable opening such as 50 may be die-cut in the margin of rear panel I6 to allow entrance for an electric conduit 52 for supplying current to an electric bulb 20; if desired a rubber grommet indicated as 54 may be placed in opening 50. There are also die-cut in bottom panel I8 two corresponding inwardly folding portions or flaps 56 provided with circular holes 58 which when inwardly folded are adapted to form a holder for lamp socket 60 (see Fig. 1) After the sock- 'et is inserted in the holes 58 with the inwardly folded portions in substantially parallel relation, rubber rings 6Lmay be slipped over either end of the lamp socket in order to hold the socket in position. An important point involved in this construction is that the two inwardly folded portions and flaps 56 provide inlets 64 for cool air from outside the limits of the sign I0, which air circulates past the lamp bulb and out through the cut-out stencil portions 22 and 24, thus keeping the sign cool; it will also be noted that the bottom panel I8 and the side panels I4 and rear panel I6 are so proportioned and formed that bottom panel I8 when the sign I0 is assembled is at an angle to the horizontal thus allowing the air to circulate freely underneath the sign and giving it access to the interior of the sign. Another important point is that both the interior and exterior of the sign ID are coated with a metallic foil covering having substantially waterproof and fireproof characteristics.

The inner surfaces of side panels I4 and rear panel I6 will ordinarily be coated as at 66 with some type of colored paint or pigmentpreferably a brilliant colored flat finish paint. If the characteristic neon effect is desired a red lead may be applied with some type of suitable binder. In order to increase the glowing effect which results from diffused light, the outer surface of the inner stencil as at 68 may be painted with a paint similar to that applied to the inside of the side panels I4 and rear panel I6. The paint selected to apply to the outer side of inner stencil 24 may be in definite contrast to the color finish of front panel I2, thereby giving the sign a definite daytime display value due to this contrast, in addition to stencil letters 23 and 25.

When the sign I8 is assembled by introducing lugs 48 into slots 46 and illumination of the interior sign is provided by positioning electric light bulb 20 in lamp socket 68, the sign I0 possesses an attractive night time display value as follows: light rays are projected fro-m the bulb 20 directly upon the inner painted surfaces of side panels I4 and rear panel I6,orare projectedindirectlythereupon by beingrefiected from the inner foil surfaces of bottom panel I8 or front panel I2, and thereupon reflected through the superposed and registered inner and outer stencils 22 and 24 respectively. The inner stencil 24 being smaller than outer stencil 22 gives a narrow, sharp outline of high intensity illumination of the letters 25 of inner stencil 24. However, certain light rays emitted give a diffused light effect by faintly illuminating the outer painted portions of inner stencil 24 as defined by the letters of outer stencil 22, thereby giving a glowing neon effect at night where the paint used for the reflective surfaces is of the proper tint of red. If desired the side edges of the letters in the outer stencil may also be painted as at 'IILthus increasing the area of light diffusion.

I have found that although registered stencils having registered letters 23 and 25 as shown by the word Jones tend to give an increased diffusion of light it is possible to obtain attractive display effects, where short words such as beer and ale are concerned, by omitting the letters in the outer stencil, having more openings therein, indicated as I2, and by painting the outer 'exposed surfaces indicated as I4 of inner stencil 24, all as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Another important feature of my invention from an assembly standpoint, is that the cut-out portion 36 of the inner sheet 34 of the blank for forming the sign serves as an alignment means for registering letters 23 of the outer stencil 22 with letters 25 of inner stencil 24 since the latter ordinarily will be made to conform in size to opening 36: once the precise measurements are ascertained for one sign then the parts may be duplicated in the production, for example, of 5000 signs and the inner stencil 22 merely inserted in the cut-out portion 36 to register and align the respective letters of the inner and outer stencils. Another advantage which follows this method of assembly and production is that there are definite limitations when die-cutting and punching out the sign indicia and the inner stencil having narrower and thinner letters 25 can be stamped out of relatively thin stock while the stock for the sign casing itself can be made of a relatively much heavier stock, thereby giving the sign the necessary thickness and stability.

As described, mounting board 26 may be laminated to paper mounted aluminum foil 28, and then stencil 22'die-cut therein before mounting inner sheet 34 upon board 26 and before die-cutting and die scoring the various panels in order that various different stencils 22 may be 'employed with signs of the same size; however, as an alternate method of production, a blank could be formed of board 26, paper mounted aluminum foil 28 and inner sheet 34 with a cut-out portion 36, before die-cutting stencil 22, and then the die-cutting of stencil 22 could be simultaneous with the other die-cutting operations performed upon board 26.

It will be understood that while the illustrated forms of the invention which I have described represent certain preferred embodiments, I do dicia formed in one wall of said casing, the indicia in the inner stencil being narrower and pigmented area upon the interior surface of said casing, said means of illumination and said pigmented area being so arranged as to project light through the sign indicia of said stencils indirectly by reflecting same upon said pigmented area.

2. A structure as defined inv claim 1 wherein the exposed areas upon the outer side of the inner stencil are pigmented with a similar colored pigment as the pigmented areas within the interior 0. the casing and wherein said pigmenthas a color in contrast to that of the exterior surface of said sign.

3. A structure as defined in claim 1 which further includes a highly reflective foil area upon the inner surface of said casing.

4. A structure as defined in claim 1, whereinsaid casing with the exception of one of the stencils, is die-cut and die scored from an integral blank formed of paper and foil laminations' 5. A structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the side edges of the outer stencil are pigmented with a similar colored pigment as the pigmented areas within the interior of the casing and wherein said pigment has a color in contrast to that of the exterior surface of said sign.

6. A structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the side edges of the outer stencil and also the exposed areas upon the outer side of the inner stencil are pigmented with a similar colored pigment as the pigmented areas within the interior of the casing and wherein said pigment has a color in. contrast to that of the exterior surface of the sign.

'7. An illuminated sign suitable for day and night display purposes including a relatively waterproof and fire resisting collapsible casing formed of a cardboard type of material faced with a metallic foil, the body portions of said casing being die cut and die scored from. an integral blank, die-cut sign indicia in one wall of said casing, means of illumination comprising an ordinary electric bulb in said casing so arranged that relatively no direct rays of light emanate from said casing, a pigmented area upon the interior surface of said casing;v said means of iilumination and said pigmentedarea being so arranged as to project light through the sign indicia indirectly by reflecting the same upon said pigmented area, and the exterior of said casing being of contrasting color to that of the said pigmented area upon said interior surface of said casing. I u 1 8. A structure as defined in claim 7 which further includes a highlylight reflective bright foil area within said casing adapted to reflect light against said pigmented area. smaller than the indicia in the outer stencil, a

9. An illuminated sign suitable for day and night display purposes including a relatively waterproof and fire resisting collapsible casing formed of a cardboard type of material faced with metallic foil, ineans of illumination comprising an ordinary electric light bulb within said casing, inner and outer registered stencils with sign indicia formed in one wall of said casing, the indicia in the inner stencil being narrower and smaller than the indicia in the outer stencil, a pigmented area upon the interior surface of said casing, said means of illumination and said pigmented area being so arranged as to project light through the sign indicia of said stencils indirectly by reflecting same upon said pigmented area, the exposed areas upon the outer side of the inner stencil being pigmented with a similar colored pigment as the pigmented area within the interior of the casing, and the exterior surface of the sign being of a contrasting color to the color within the interior of the said sign.

10. A structure as defined in claim- 9 which further includes a highly light reflective foil area upon the inner surface of said casing adapted to reflect light against the pigmented area upon the interior surface of the sign.

CHARLES W. BELDEN. 

